Real Madrid vs Liverpool - CL 1st Leg - Pre-match

Liverpool vs Real Madrid

On 25th February 2009 at 20:45 - Santiago Bernabéu Stadium - Madrid - Spain

Two of European football's most illustrious names will come together for only the second time when Real Madrid CF and Liverpool FC get their first knockout round contest under way at the Santiago Bernabéu.

Twenty-eight years after Liverpool claimed the European Champion Clubs' Cup at Madrid's expense with a 1-0 final win in Paris, these two clubs with 14 continental crowns between them will meet again in a duel deep in subplots.

The presence of Rafael Benitez in the opposition dugout adds arguably the thickest splash of intrigue given his close association with the Spanish champions, with whom he spent a decade and a half of his sporting life.

Born in Madrid, Benitez joined the Santiago Bernabéu side as a young hopeful in 1973/74 and spent seven years in the youth and reserve ranks. After injury had ended his playing days, he returned to the club in 1986 to embark on a coaching career in their youth system. He rose the ladder to become coach of Castilla, Madrid's B team, and, in 1993/94, had an eleven-game spell assisting then caretaker boss Vicente Del Bosque with the first team.

Benitez is not the only man at Anfield with a Madrid connection for defender Alvaro Arbeloa made two Liga appearances for Los Merengues in the 2004/05 campaign, the high point of a three-season spell with the club. A regular for the B team, he moved on to RC Deportivo La Coruña in 2005 in search of first-team football.

Liverpool's squad features five Spanish players in Xabi Alonso, Arbeloa, Pepe Reina, Albert Riera and Fernando Torres, the erstwhile icon of Madrid's city rivals Club Atlético de Madrid.

In the white corner, meanwhile, is Juande Ramos, the Madrid coach who took the helm at the Bernabéu in December, six weeks after his 12-month stay in the Premier League had ended with his dismissal by Tottenham Hotspur FC.

Madrid's bench will also likely feature Jerzy Dudek, now back-up goalkeeper at the Bernabéu but, in 2005, the hero of Liverpool's penalty shoot-out triumph against AC Milan in the UEFA Champions League final in Istanbul. Dudek's miraculous extra-time double save from Andriy Shevchenko and decisive penalty stop from the same player earned him a place in Anfield folklore.

Champions for the fifth time in 2005, Liverpool's recent record in the competition – they are targeting a fourth quarter-final in five years – means they will start as slight favourites against a Madrid side who have not advanced beyond the last 16 since 2004.

The Merseyside club progressed from the first stage as Group D winners ahead of Atlético having recorded four victories and two draws in their six games. Hosts Madrid finished runners-up in Group H behind Juventus, with four wins and two defeats to their name.

Madrid's home record against English opposition reads P9 W4 D4 L1. Their only defeat to date came in their most recent UEFA Champions League tie against a Premier League team, when Arsenal FC won 1-0 at the Santiago Bernabéu in the 2005/06 first knockout round.

Madrid's defeat by Arsenal left them with a record of five wins and three losses in two-legged ties with English sides.

Madrid have lost three UEFA finals against opposition from England, notably the European Cup final against Liverpool at the Parc des Princes in Paris on 27 May 1981. Alan Kennedy's solitary 81st-minute strike that evening earned Liverpool manager Bob Paisley the honour of becoming the first and so far only man to have led a team to three European Cups.



I'm hoping to get an away goal from this match and a draw atleast, we don't want to have to leave all the down to second leg at Anfield if we get beaten by two goals at the Bernabéu.

I am going for a 4-1-3-2 (With Benayoun just behind Torres), hopefully there will be no injuries in the Man City game.

                                                                                                                     Reina
                                   
                                                                 Arbeloa                          Carragher               Skrtel                    Aurelio

                                                                                                                       Alonso
                                                             
                                                                     Kuyt                              Gerrard                                           Riera

                                                                                                                        Benayoun
                                                                                                                Torres

can't wait for the match. its so exciting. it'll be one hell of an encounter both in madrid and at anfield.

        

If Gerrard's fit:

Code: [Select]

                Reina

   Arbeloa - Carragher - Skrtel - Aurelio

              Alonso - Mascherano
  Kuyt                                     Riera
                      Gerrard
               Torres


Really could have waited until after the City game this thread.

Really could have waited until after the City game this thread.

thought that too, take one game at a time.

I agree with Reslivo and lfc 4life, but it's a big game and i'm sure everyone can't wait for it, however should have waited til Sunday evening at the earliest.

OK Guys I get the point. I just thought it was a huge game so it needed to be put on the forum early, anyway if I would of waited any longer someone else would of done this thread before me!

Suppose it could always be locked until after the Man City game if that's what's appropriate anyway.

real are red hot at the moment, just wonder if the crowd will boo our spanish players to get them off there game. play defensive and try and sneak a goal in the last minute. sure ithere would be more comments after the city game.

The subject thread should be changed as it's Real Madrid V Liverpool first leg.

I'm trying not to think about this game just yet, as we have a very important League game to get through first.

Just to say...........it will be a cracking match, of that I'm sure although a little cagey I think to start with, as each teams whey's each other up, I'm hoping for at least a draw in the first leg, be happy with a 1-1.

Nando is bound to take a lot of stick in this match, but I think he'll thrive on it.

I've got a ticket for the second game at Anfield 
Boy, am I excited 

The last time these two clubs met in a competitive competition, I was at that match also.

The 1981 European Cup Final in Paris  and I'm sure you don't need me to remind you of the score.

The last time these two clubs met in a competitive competition, I was at that match also.

The 1981 European Cup Final in Paris  and I'm sure you don't need me to remind you of the score.

Are you sure? You don't look old enough MsG 

Are you sure? You don't look old enough MsG 

Flattery will get you everywhere 

I was very young 

I dont want to talk about this game before tomorrow's game.

I was very young 

You still are.

I think Rafa will play will 3 central defenders, (Agger,Skrtel,Carra) 2 wing backs (Arbeloa,Aurelio) Masch,Kuyt,Alonso, in midfield and Gerrard behind Torres.

I was very young 

How young?

How young?

nosey aren't you 

Does it matter how old I was went I went to Gay Paree 

Went on the special train from Lime Street, it was boss 

A bit younger than you are now 

You still are.

Course I am aw1   

The subject thread should be changed as it's Real Madrid V Liverpool first leg.

Fair point.

Tut, tut Witto!

nosey aren't you 

Does it matter how old I was went I went to Gay Paree 

Went on the special train from Lime Street, it was boss 


A bit younger than you are now 


Course I am aw1   

Never ask a lady her age, eh MsG!
































So MsG, how old are you then!      

I'm only kidding 

 

Soften 'em up and then strike, eh Ard Mhacha Red

Never ask a lady her age, eh MsG!


So MsG, how old are you then!      
I'm only kidding 

 

This is going to be a good game can't wait, there will not be a lot of goals in this one.
I think we will nick it 1-0
Anyway my team would be:
                                                  Reina

                           Arbeloa    Carragher   Skrtel    Aurelio

                                        Mascherano   Alonso

                           Kuyt               Gerrard            Riera

                                                 Torres

If Gerrard is not fit then i would play Benayoun behind Torres.

It will be a tough game if Stevie G is out.

We have to move on now from the City game and focus on our next game against Real Madrid.